Track-laying skate



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,162

F.- BUITENKAMP TRACK LAYING SKATE Filed Aug. 24, 1926 INVENTOR FRANK B KTEHKANP AT ORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK BUITENKAMP, OF SAN FRANCISCO, GALIFQBIEIA.

TRACK-LAYING SKATE.

Application filed August 24, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in roller skates and resides in the provision of a novel and eflicicnt form of roller of the track laying type and which willprovide for the desired stability and speed with little or no wear on the parts.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a track laying roller skate of the character described which will operate effectively over rough and irregular surfaces where the ordinary roller skate could not be well used.

The roller skate of my invention is in reality a single roller skate and the tread of the track laying device constituting the roller may be made comparatively narrow so as to minimize friction. The length of the roller or track laying device provides for stability in the skates equal to that provided in a four wheeled skate. This type of roller will occasion less wear and have longer life than the wheels of the ordinary roller skate and will provide for smoothness of operation which is greater than is possible with the ordinary type of roller skates. By making a slight change in the construction of the tread, the skate of this invention may be adapted for use on ice and when arranged as an ice skate can also be used on land.

The skate of my invention may be considered to constitute a general improvement over the four and two wheeled type of skates now commonly used in that it provides greater stability, is smoother in operation over rough surfaces and smooth surfaces also and is stronger and more durable and at the same time capable of being operated with the same, if not greater speed than multi-wheeled skates. In addition, the treads of skates constructed in accordance with this invention may be readily renewed at a comparatively low cost without requiring renewal of the other parts Whereas with multi-wheeled skates, the entire wheels must be replaced.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated. in the accompanying drawing and set forth in the claim hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawin Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a skate Serial No. 131,159.

constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invent-ion shown in the accompanying drawing, there is pro vided a skate body portion designated 1 upon whichthe foot of the skater rested, which body portion is constructed of sheet metal and of the usual shape to accommodate the foot of the skater. On the body portion are strap devices generally designated 2 and 3 for securing the skate to the foot. Extending downwardly from the body portion adjacent the heel and toe parts thereof are triangular brackets generally designated 4 and 5. At their upper ends these brackets are enlarged and extended in the form of vertical parallel portions 6, which engage on opposite sides of the ends of an elongated ball bearing holder or race generally designated. 7. Bolts 8 having nuts 9 thereon are employed for clamping the portions 6 against the member 7 and hold said member in place. This holder comprises two elongated plates 10 identically shaped and which are engaged centrally of their upper and lower longitudinal edges, being held-together by screws or other fastening elements 11. These plates have complementary concavo-convex portions 12 extending circumferentially thereofnear their peripheries, which concave-convex portions provide a race-way for bearing balls 18, said race-way being substantially circular in cross section. At their peripheries these plates are inwardly offset and extend as spaced parallel edge portions 14 between which an endless track generally designated 15 is mounted. This endless track may, as shown, include an endless tread 16 which may be formed of rubber or any other suitable tread material.

The endless track 15 comprises a flexible steel endless band 17 which on its inner side engages the balls 13, and on its outer side engages the shoulders 18 provided by ofl'setting the portions 14 of the plates 10. lVelded or otherwise secured to the outer face of this band are a plurality of small metal blocks 19, the sides of which are in sliding engagement with the opposed faces of the portions 14:. These blocks are mounted so as to be in engagement with one another on their opposed faces and each is provided with an enlarged channeled outer end whereby the entire group of blocks forms a holder for the endless tread 16 as particularly shown in Fig. 3. Through the flexibility of the band 17 and the employment of the separate blocks for holding the endless tread 16, these blocks will spread apart as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when negotiating the curves. At the ends of the track laying devices, these blocks on the upper and lower runs of the endless track, remain in close engagement with one another soas to provide a rigid support for the endless tread and to insure a smooth operation or rotation of the tread. Although these blocks are shown and described as being spot welded, to the band 17, they may be secured thereto in any other suitable manner.

The upper part of the holder 7 is preferably upwardly bowed, thus making the upper run of the track. This isfor the purpose of using the bowed port-ion as the lower run of the track if desired, it only then being necessary to remove the fastenings and to invert the track laying device. By using this bowed portion as the lower run of the track, better results might be obtained under cer tain conditions of roadways or pavements, and this may be at the option of the manufacturer or skater. It is thought unnecessary to illustrate this obvious reversal of arrangement.

In the operation of the skate, the track 7 turns in such manner as to offer a. smooth surface for the balls to ride upon, this smooth surface being in the present instance, the endless band 17. Friction is minimized with a track laying device of this kind for roller skates and comparatively little wear is given except as to the tread portion, which may be readily renewed if desired. The length of the track laying device, that is to say the tread of the track laying device, issubstantially equal to the length of the skate and this which plates are welded or secured in any other suitable manner to the band 17 in the same manner as are the blocks 19. These blocks 21 on the lower run of the track act as a runway and provide for use of the skate on ice. They also provide for use of the skate on land but it is preferable to employ a rubber tread for land use of the skates. The lower edges of the plates 21 may be ground or sharpened as are the runways of ice skates.

As shown in Fig. 5, the blocks 19 are each provided with small rubber tread portions in the form of blocks designated 22. On the lower run of the track of this form of the invention the small rubber tread blocks abut one another and form a continuous tread. The only difference in this form of the invention is that the tread is made of a plurality of separate co-act-ing pieces instead of being endless as is the rubber tread 16.

I claim:

A roller skate comprising a body portion adapted to be attached to the foot of the skater, means for so attaching the body portion, brackets extending below the body portion, a runway for ball bearings supported by the brackets, which runway is provided with a circuitous path for the ball bearings, ball bearings mounted on the runway in said path, a flat endless band surrounding and engaging the outer sides of the ball bearings so as to be rotatable around the runway in contact with the bearings, a. plurality of separate blocks fastened to said band so as to abut one another on their opposed faces on upper and lower runs of the band and a rubber tread member associated with said blocks, which tread member is in endless form and is fastened to the outer ends of said blocks.

FRANK BUITENKAMP. 

